Portable kit for assembling golf club

ABSTRACT

An improved portable kit for assembling a golf club comprising means detachably connecting any one of a set club heads or spoons to a shaft whereby a selectively assembled club may be provided to facilitate optimum execution of various strokes, such as teeing off, chipping, putting or the like and carrying case for the idle heads. The said connecting means comprising mating spline elements on the lower end of said shaft and the upper end of each of said club heads or spoons, a threaded member which in assembly threadedly engages with threaded portions on each of said lower end of said shaft and a mating club head to thereby detachably connect the latter to said shaft. The said club further including an adjustable strap adapted to function as a shoulder sling. The said carrying case comprising a shoulder carrying strap, a pair of generally concentric arcuate sidewalls whereby one of said sidewalls is externally concave and the other sidewall is externally convex, said externally concave wall being of such curvature as to fit comfortably about a golfer&#39;&#39;s waist. The said carrying case also comprising storage space for extra balls, tees, gloves, and the like, and a support tray for a plurality of interchangeable club heads.

United States Patent 1 1 Hill 1 PORTABLE KIT FOR ASSEMBLING GOLF CLUB [76] Inventor: Johnnie P. Hill, 700 Maxfield.

Waco, Tex. 76705 [22] Filed: Dec. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 426,012

[52] US. Cl 273/80.l; 273/77 R; 273/77 A [51] Int. Cl A63b 53/02 [58] Field of Search...-..... 273/77 R, 77 A, 79, 80 D,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 782,955 2/1905 Emens 273/80.1

796.802 8/1905 Brown 273/80.l 973.484 10/1910 Dorscy..... 273/77 R UX 1,650,183 11/1927 Brooks 273/8l.2 2.001.342 5/1935 Dycc 2731/80.] 2.636.751 4/1953 Carlson 273/77 R X 2.889.863 6/1959 Arnold 273/77 R UX 2,949.304 8/1960 Williams... 273/812 X 3,044,781 7/1962 Murphy 273/80.1 UX 3.305.235 2/1967 Williams 273/81.2 3.424.459 1/1969 Evancho 273/80.1 3,524,646 8/1970 Wheeler.... 273/80.l X 3.829.092 8/1974 Arkin 273/77 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 16.896 8/1904 United Kingdom 273/801 427.399 4/1935 United Kingdom 273/80.1

1 1 June 24, 1975 Primary E.\'aminerRichard J. Apley Attorney. Agent, or Firm.lames A. Wong 1 1 ABSTRACT An improved portable kit for assembling a golf club comprising means detachably connecting any one of a set club heads or spoons to a shaft whereby a selectively assembled club may be provided to facilitate optimum execution of various strokes, such as teeing off, chipping, putting or the like and carrying case for the idle heads. The said connecting means comprising mating spline elements on the lower end of said shaft and the upper end of each of said club heads or spoons, a threaded member which in assembly threadedly engages with threaded portions on each of said lower end of said shaft and a mating club head to thereby detachably connect the latter to said shaft. The said club further including an adjustable strap adapted to function as a shoulder sling. The said carrying case comprising a shoulder carrying strap, a pair of generally concentric arcuate sidewalls whereby one of said sidewalls is externally concave and the other sidewall is externally convex, said externally concave wall being of such curvature as to fit comfortably about a golfers waist. The said carrying case also comprising storage space for extra balls, tees, gloves. and the like, and a support tray for a plurality of interchangeable club heads.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN24|915 3,891,212

' sum 2 PORTABLE KIT FOR ASSEMBLING GOLF CLUB BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to golf clubs and related accessories therefor. More particularly this invention relates to a portable kit for assembling a golf club with means for detachably attaching any one of a selected club head or spoon with which a desired stroke may be executed and includes a carrying case for idle club heads or spoons and other accessories;

2. Description of the Prior Art I Heretofore, it has been known to provide a golf club shaft with a club head detachably secured thereto and which is replaceable by a club suitable for a different stroke, as exemplified by the Dyce patent (US. Pat. No. l.9:46.l34) and Evancho patent (US Pat. No. 3,424,459). Briefly. it is noted that the Dyce club comprises a rod and socket fitting between club shaft and club head and a spring loaded detent arrangement. The Evancho club construction comprises a longitudinally extending slot in the lower end ofa club shaft and a detachably secured club head with a mating tongue portion disposed within the slot of the shaft. The club head of Evancho additionally includes a threaded screw member extending from the tongue portion through a hole inthe backside of the club shaft and threaded to a nut whereby the club head and shaft are detachably secured to each other.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable kit for assembling a golf club includ ing a shaft of predetermined length, grip. weight, balance, and the like. and a replaceable club head or spoon secured thereto for facilitating the execution of a specific type of shot such as in teeing off. chipping, putting, or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club assembly with interchangeable heads or spoons and improved means for detachably connecting the shaft and a selected club head or spoon.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved golf club assembly including convenient carrying means therefor.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a set of interchangeable club heads or spoons which may be selectively secured to a shaft member to facilitate execution of a specific shot.

A further object of'the present invention is to provide means for neatly storing idle ones ofa plurality ofinterchangeable club heads or spoons.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide means for storing idle ones of a plurality of interchangeable club heads or spoons so that a proper selection of the desired head may be quickly effected.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide portable means for storing idle ones ofa plurality of interchangeable club heads or spoons and other golfing accessories.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description. of which the attached drawings form a part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all views:

FIG. 1 represents a side elevational view of a golfer lining up his club for a shot with the accessory carrying case slung over his shoulders. the club and case being the subject of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the golf club assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the'golf club assembly of the present invention taken along the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the accessory carrying case taken along the line 44 in FIG. 1 according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view in perspective of the carrying case in FIG. 4 with the lid removed and inverted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it may be seen in FIG. 1 that the golfer G has his outstretched arms extended in front of.him to line up the club assembly 10 for a shot and the accessory carrying case slung over his shoulder, the club assembly 10 and accessory carrying case 60 together being the subject of the present invention.

The club assembly 10 as clearly seen in FIG. 2. which for convenience may be referred to as a solar golf club assembly. comprises a shaft l2including a grip l4 integral therewith at the upper end thereof and a tubular two-way coupling element 16 integral therewith at the lower end thereof. Extending externally of two-way coupling element 16 are male threads 18. Disposed internally of two-way coupling element 16 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending splines 20 of equal circumferential dimension and a spline 21 of different circumferential dimension with recesses 22 and 23 therebetween. Coupling element 16 preferably is formed separately of shaft 12 and includes a dome portion D to which shaft 12 is welded as at W. A sleeve 24 with internal threads 26 adapted to be engaged with threads 18 is provided to lock any one selected club head or spoon 28 in coupled condition to form club assembly 10.

Club head or spoon 28 includes a shank 30 extending generally vertically upward therefrom. Continuing upwardly from shank 30 club head or spoon 28 is seen to be formed with parti-spherical surface 32, a radial flange 33, external threads 34, a first pair of circumferentially spaced, axially extending splines 36, and a second pair of circumferentially, axially extending splines 37, which as seen in FIG. 3 are oflesser circumferential width than splines 36. Parti-spherical surface 32 in addition to obviously providing a rather attractive appearance, would tend to provide a streamline quality to the club assembly 10. Splines 36 and 37 of club head or spoon 28 are adapted to be interfitted into recesses 22 and 23, respactively between pairs of splines 20 and/or 21 of two-way coupling element 16 with the recesses 22 being sized to accommodate splines 36 and recesses 23 being sized to accommodate splines 37, as illustrated in FIG. 3 to ensure proper orientation thereof. External threads 34 of club head or spoon 28 are adapted to be engaged with internal threads 26 of sleeve 24.

Spaced a slight distance below the lower end of handle 14 on shaft 12 and fixed thereto is a pair of spaced apart hemispherical members 38 and 40 with a channel 42 therebetween. Disposed within channel 42 is an arcuate band 44 with bifurcated projections, which are 3 linked to the upper end of a carrying strap 46 by a connector clip 48 interlooped with loop 50 of strap 46.

Slideably disposed around shaft 12 below hemispherical members 38 and 40 is an arcuate bushing 52 with bifurcated projections which are linked to the lower end of strap 46 by a connector clip 54 interlooped with loop 56 of strap 46.

To use the club assembly 10, a golfer need only to select the proper club head or spoon 28, threadingly engage the female threads 26 of sleeve 24 with either the male threads of coupling element 16 or the male threads of club head 28, insert splines 36 of club head 28 within recesses 22 of coupling element 16 until seated therein, and thereafter rotate sleeve 24 in a reverse direction so that it will be back off slightly from the member engaged therewith and into engagement with the other of the male threads. Appropriate abutment means not illustrated may be provided on one of the members with male threads to limit the axial travel of sleeve 26 to lockingly secure club head or spoon 28 to coupling element 16 of shaft 12. With the selected club head 28 assembled with shaft 12, the golfer G may then make the desired shot or stroke therewith.

If a different club head is needed, the above procedure is reversed and then repeated with the newly selected club head or spoon 28, for example.

In going between holes the golfer may comfortably carry the club assembly by sliding bushing 52 upwardly along shaft 12 to open up thespace between strap 46 and shaft 12, inserting an arm through the space between the strap 46 and shaft 12, resting hemispherical member on his shoulder and lowering bushing 52 along shaft 12 to securely carry the club assembly with strap 46 in a taut condition. Because of the rounded surface of hemispherical member 40, the weight of the club assembly will be comfortably borne by golfer G.

Further, according to the present invention an accessory carrying case 60 is provided as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The case 60 includes a main body portion 62 with a base 64, end walls 66, 68, and externally concave side wall 70, and externally convex side wall 72 to define a compartment 74. Convex side wall 72 is relatively unobtrusive when carrying case 60 is carried by golfer G. Spare balls SB may be stored in the case 60 in the compartment 74. Other accessories such as tees and gloves may also be stored in compartment 74. Body portion 62 also includes a horizontal ledge 76 extending inwardly from the upper edges of end walls 66, 68, and side walls 70, 72. Offset inwardly from end walls 66, 68, and side walls 70, 72, and connected to said walls by ledge 76 is an upwardly extending skirt 78.

Removably supported above body portion 62 is a tray 80 which is similar to but smaller than body portion 62 as view from above. Tray 80 includes a downwardly extending skirt 82 adapted to be slipped over skirt 78 of body portion 62 and upon ledge 76. A plurality of apertures 84 are provided in tray 80 to receive spare club heads or spoons 28, 28", 28", etc., therein and limited by flanges 33, 33", 33", etc., against passing completely through the respective apertures 84 so that said club heads or spoons may be in full view and quickly selected. To facilitate lifting tray 80 to gain access to compartment 74 and lowering tray 80 into closed condition a lifting handle 86 with a finger loop 88 at the free end thereof is secured to tray 80, for example, by a threaded portion 90 at the lower end thereof and nuts 92 and 94 on opposite sides of tray 80.

Accessory carrying case further includes a cover 96 with outer end and side walls defined dimensionally as if by vertical extensions of the surfaces 66, 68, 70, and 72 of main body portion 62 when it is closed over the main body portion 62. Cover 96 is secured to main body portion 62 by retention straps 98 and anchor members 100 and 102.

While not intended to be carried over the golfers shoulder as a shot is taken, the accessory carrying case 60 may be conveniently and comfortably carried by a shoulder strap 104 connected to main body 62 as illustrated in FIG. 1 when the golfer is walking between shots.

To remove a club head or spoon 28' from its storage position on tray 80, golfer G need only to open cover 96 of case 60 and select and raise club head or spoon 28' out of its aperture 84. To gain access to compartment 74 and remove a spare ball SB, for example, golfer G need only to raise tray and reach for a spare ball SB.

It is to be understood that while one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention has been illustrated and described herein, numerous variations or modifications therein may occur to those having skill in this art and what is intended to be covered herein is not only the illustrated form of the invention, but also any and all modified forms thereof as may come within the spirit of said invention.

I claim:

1. A portable kit for assembling a golf club for executing various golf strokes such as teeing off, chipping, putting, or the like, said kit comprising a shaft, a plurality of club heads or spoons any one of which may be assembled upon a lower end of said shaft, and a carrying case for said club heads or spoons, characterized in that said shaft comprises a handle or grip at its upper end, coupling means at the lower end thereof in the form of a tubular member with alternate splines and recesses therein and a threaded portion externally thereof and which in assembly cooperates with a club head or spoon member selected from said kit with a similarly threaded portion and spline elements extending from the'end thereof and in said recesses of said tubular member and a sleeve with internal threads engaged with both said threaded portion of said tubular member and said threaded portion of said club head or spoon member.

2. A portable kit as defined in claim 1 wherein a carrying strap is axially fixed at one end to said shaft and slideably secured at its other end to said shaft.

3. A portable kit as defined in claim 2 wherein said club head or spoon includes a shank portion and a partispherical surface from which said threaded portion of said club head or spoon extends.

4. A portable kit as defined in claim 3 wherein said carrying strap is slideably secured at its other end to said shaft by an arcuate bushing member with bifurcated projections linked thereto by a clip.

5. A portable kit as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrying case is formed with a pair of arcuate side walls one of which is externally concave and adapted to be conveniently carried against a golfers body and the other of said side walls is externally convex and relatively unobtrusive.

6. A portable kit defined in claim 5 wherein said carrying case includes a body portion formed with a horizontal ledge and an upwardly extending skirt portion supporting and retaining a removable tray thereon.

7. A portable kit as defined in claim 6 wherein said removable tray comprises a plurality of apertures which receive and support idle club heads or spoons in a display condition whereby a desired club head or spoon may be quickly and conveniently selected for use.

8. The portable kit as defined in claim 7 wherein said removable tray includes means for lifting said tray up off of said body portion of said carrying case so that ac- LII 

1. A portable kit for assembling a golf club for executing various golf strokes such as teeing off, chipping, putting, or the like, said kit comprising a shaft, a plurality of club heads or spoons any one of which may be assembled upon a lower end of said shaft, and a carrying case for said club heads or spoons, characterized in that said shaft comprises a handle or grip at its upper end, coupling means at the lower end thereof in the form of a tubular member with alternate splines and recesses therein and a threaded portion externally thereof and which in assembly cooperates with a club head or spoon member selected from said kit with a similarly threaded portion and spline elements extending from the end thereof and in said recesses of said tubular member and a sleeve with internal threads engaged with both said threaded portion of said tubular member and said threaded portion of said club head or spoon member.
 2. A portable kit as defined in claim 1 wherein a carrying strap is axially fixed at one end to said shaft and slideably secured at its other end to said shaft.
 3. A portable kit as defined in claim 2 wherein said club head or spoon includes a shank portion and a partispherical surface from which said threaded portion of said club head or spoon extends.
 4. A portable kit as defined in claim 3 wherein said carrying strap is slideably secured at its other end to said shaft by an arcuate bushing member with bifurcated projections linked thereto by a clip.
 5. A portable kit as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrying case is formed with a pair of arcuate side walls one of which is externally concave and adapted to be conveniently carried against a golfer''s body and the other of said side walls is externally convex and relatively unobtrusive.
 6. A portable kit as defined in claim 5 wherein said carrying case includes a body portion formed with a horizontal ledge and an upwardly extending skirt portion supporting and retaining a removable tray thereon.
 7. A portable kit as defined in claim 6 wherein said removable tray comprises a plurality of apertures which receive and support idle club heads or spoons in a display condition whereby a desired club head or spoon may be quickly and conveniently selected for use.
 8. The portable kit as defined in claim 7 wherein said removable Tray includes means for lifting said tray up off of said body portion of said carrying case so that access may be gained to said body portion which may serve as a storage compartment for accessories such as spare balls, tees, gloves, or the like.
 9. The portable kit as defined in claim 8 wherein said carrying case includes a carrying strap attached thereto which is adapted to be slung over a golfer''s shoulder.
 10. The portable kit as defined in claim 9 wherein said carrying case includes a cover member and retention straps connected to both said cover member and said body portion of said carrying case. 